MARTINEZ BEMOANS BAD LUCK ON BIG CALLS AS BLACK CATS PICK UP POINT
REFEREE Lee Mason clearly does not rate Seamus Coleman. The Everton right back was six yards from goal with just Costel Pantilimon to beat when a sliding Connor Wickham clumsily sent him toppling to the turf. Simple — penalty, red card. The former, yes. The latter, no. Somehow, Mason kept his card in his pocket. The only explanation can be that he did not deem Coleman’s chance a goalscoring opportunity. Coleman, do not forget, is a defender who has netted three times already this season — he would have scored. As it was, Leighton Baines equalised from the spot. Just. His scuffed 76th-minute effort squirmed under Pantilimon to cancel out Seb Larsson’s free-kick. Earlier, in the first half, Sunderland’s Jordi Gomez had escaped red when Mason, having booked the midfielder for the challenge which forced Gareth Barry off with suspected ankle-ligament damage, failed to show a second yellow for a dive when Gomez flung himself over Jagielka’s leg. Everton boss Roberto Martinez felt aggrieved with Mason. ‘We did not have any luck with the big calls,’ he said. ‘It (Wickham foul) was a penalty and a clear-cut opportunity to score. It was a red card. At that time we had momentum and it could have been very different. ‘I was surprised he was not sent off. Once you give a penalty away it is a red card. That was a major moment.’ Martinez — who signed Gomez for Swansea and Wigan — also thought his former player should have been dismissed. ‘I don’t want to see players sent off but those are the rules,’ he said. ‘Jordi had a yellow card and he got caught simulating. The referee saw it and went to blow but decided against it. The two big calls did not go our way.’ Gus Poyet, meanwhile, felt Mason should have shown more conviction. ‘Maybe he thought it was close,’ he said. ‘Sometimes, when a referee doesn’t know if it’s that close, they go 50-50 — give the penalty but don’t send off the player. Me, I like it to be black or white. Penalty, red card.’ Sunderland could even have made it back-to-back wins
when James McCarthy hacked Wes Brown’s header off the goal-line in stoppage-time. That they could have nicked three points owed much to Pantilimon, as well as Mason. The former Manchester City custodian made his first league start during Monday’s 3-1 win at Crystal Palace — where he was only beaten by Brown’s own goal — and again he impressed. His saves, particularly a smart double to keep out Romelu Lukaku, allowed the hosts to take an unlikely lead when Larsson, accepting Tim Howard’s invitation to locate the bottom corner from 25 yards, duly swept home a delightful free-kick. Then the drama unfolded. Wickham escaped red, Baines levelled and McCarthy preserved the point with his late clearance. Martinez, whose side climbed to 10th, reflected: ‘We controlled the game with ease for long spells. We have shown we have the ingredients of a winning team and that pleases me greatly. I don’t think the table reflects our potential.’ Sunderland — thrashed 8-0 by Southampton at St Mary’s last month — have recovered to scramble from the foot of the table to 12th. ‘I am a lot happier than where we were one week ago,’ said Poyet.
SUNDERLAND (4-1-4-1): Pantilimon 7.5; Vergini 6.5, O’Shea 7, Brown 6.5, Reveillere 6; Bridcutt 7; Johnson 5 (Buckley 6, 64), Larsson 7, Gomez 6.5 (Rodwell 81), Wickham 6.5; Fletcher 6.
Subs not used: Mannone, Mavrias, Graham, Robson, Altidore. Booked: Gomez. Scorer: Larsson 67.
EVERTON (4-2-3-1): Howard 6; Coleman 6.5, Jagielka 6.5, Distin 6.5, Baines 6.5; McCarthy 7, Barry (Gibson 6.5, 13); McGeady 6.5 (Naismith 6, 70), Eto’o 6.5, Barkley 7 (Osman 86); Lukaku 6. Subs not used: Robles, Hibbert,
Besic, Atsu. Booked: McCarthy, McGeady. Scorer: Baines pen 76 pen.
Man of the match: Costel Pantilimon. Referee: Lee Mason 4.